Tank and method of making the same



Feb. 25; 1930.

H. P. MERRIAM 1,748,576

TANK AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Fi1ed Aug.15. 192a Patented Feb. 25,1930 UNITED STATES;

PATENT opmn I HENRY ,ZP. MERRIAM,

or GARBONDALE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIenoR T nivrnnroan WELDING COMPANY, OFNEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TANK AND METHOD OF MAKING THESAME Application filed August 15, 1928. Serial No. 299,861.

This invention relates to metal containers h of a tank showing an endclosure or bottom such as tanks for holding gas under hig pressure, andhas particular reference to an end closure for tanks.

Gases under pressure, acetylene for example, are commonly distributed insteel tanks which are of varied construction, but the high pressureemployed makes it imperative that the tanks be sound and sufficientlystrong.

- Many means of closing the tank ends have been devised in an effort tostrengthen these portions of tanks, as it is customary to roll the tankson their bottom edges. When this operation is continually repeated onhard surfaces such as concrete floors, the lower edge becomes deformedand frequently the tanks are rendered unsuited for further use. I

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide anexceptionally strong and durable bottomend closure for gas tanks.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a tank shell havinga separate and independent bottom united thereto in such a manner as tobecome really a part or continuation of the shell.

A still further object of the invention is:

the provision of a tank having a unitary bottom reinforced by a falsebottom.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tank for holdinggases under pressure, which tank is provided with a false bottom forreinforcing purposes and for providing an element on which thetank maybe rolled. v As another object of the invention,the same contemplatesthe provision of a tank having a recessed lower end in which is fitted arolling ring which is secured to the tank shell and which serves toreinforce the. lower end of the tank.

This invention also contemplates the-provision of atmethod of formingthe end closure of a tank or the like. e Other objects and advantages ofthis inven- 4Btion wilbbe apparent from the following descriptiorljtakenwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the lower end of "a tank'showing thebottom initially, placed in position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the lower end welded thereto and alsoshowing a false bottom or reinforcement in its initial position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but show-,

ing the tank end and its associated bottom crimped over the falsebottom; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the completed tank end.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Figs. 1 to inclusivedisclose the several steps required to form the tank end, and Fig.4"discloses the completed tank end. As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the tankcomprises a body portion indicated at A, the same being a tubularmetallic shell 2 having a r e cessed end which is formed by an endclosure indicated generally at 4. Secured within the recessed end of thetank is a rolling rin'g indi-' cated generally at B, the end of whichprotrudes-or extends beyond the end of the shell 2 and said rolling-ringB is retained in. the recessed end of the tank by reason of the factthat the end ofthe tank or shell 2 iscrimped around the rolling ririgmsshown clearly at 6.

The rolling ring is preferably of the form shown clearly'in Fig. 4, andcomprises in effect an inverted cup-shaped element hav- 1ng an opening 8in the base thereof, the base being downwardly bevelled as shown at 10and the bevel terminating in an annular flange 12 which extends into therecessed end of the tank. The rolling ring B is further secured inposition by means of internal and external welds 14 and 16 respectively,weld 14 connecting the lower edge of flange 12 with the end closure 4'and weld 16 connecting the end of the tank shell 2 with the rolling-ringabove the lower edge of the latter. l The rolling ring is provided withan internal flange 18 adjacent the opening for the purpose ofstrengthening the ring itself, and the base of the ring is provided withweep holes 20 to permit escape or drainage of any water or forelgnmatter which may by anychance collec't within the recessed end of thetank.

first provided which is tubular, as shown 7 clearly in 1, and the endclosure 4 is invserted in the end ofthis tubular shell 2 also asclearly/shown in-Fig. 1; the end closure 4 being substantiallycup-shaped and provid- 5 ing a concaved base portion 22 and an annularflange, or side wall 24 which is adapted to nicely fit the interior ofthe shell 2 at the end thereof. The next step in the method of thepresent invention is to connect or unite the end closure 4 with theshell2, and this is done ,preferably by flame welding whereby the end closure4 at the flange 24 is united to form a unitary whole with the end of theshell 2; the union of these two parts being indicated at 26. Obviously,under the influence of a flame weld, the parts are expanded, that is,the end of the shell 2 and the flange 24 of the end closure 4 areexpanded due to heat, and while in their expanded position, and prior tocoolthe rollingring B is placed in position within the end closure 4, asclearly shown in Fig. 2. The rolling ring having been placed asindicated in Fig. 2, theend of the tank shell and its united flange 24of the end closure, is then crimped around the flange 12 of. the rollingring, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and the parts as so positioned willassume the position shown in F ig; 3 uponthe cooling of the end of theshell 2, the end of the shell 2 and its associated end closure shrinkingonto the rolling ring B at the flange 12 thereof.

As the final step in the method of the res-' ent invention, the loweredge of the ange 12 of the rolling ring B is welded to the end closure4, as shown at 14, and the upper edge of the shell 2 is then annularlywelded to the rolling ring B, as shown at 16. The rolling ring B, itwill be apparent,

it protrudes or extends beyond the shell 2 to provide a surface on whichthe tank may be rolled. The rolling ring B also serves as a false bottomand strengthens the lower edge of the shell 2 with its associatedclosure 4.

It is believed that from the description herein, the construction andoperation of the tank of the present invention will be fully apparent tothose skilled in the art without further elaboration, but it can be seenthat the construction shown and just described provides an end closurefor a tank which is extremely strong and durable in operation and whichprovides a surface on which the tank may be rolled, the rolling ring Bbeing so formed with'its beveled surface that sharp corners areeliminated, thereby preserving thelife of the end closure by theelimination of such sharp corners or edges and providing a surface onwhich the tank may easily be rolled.

The drawings herein disclose one embodiment of the invention, but it isto be understood that the drawings are merely by way Q of example, andthat various changes in the ing, and preferably just after the welding,:

serves to reinforce the end of the tank, and

form andgproportions of the device may be made such as fall within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

*1. A tank having an assembled head comprising a shell, 2. bottom forthe shell having a side wall fitting within the lower end of the shelland welded thereto, and a false bottom for the shell having a side wallfitting within the shell bottom; said shell and bottom beingcrimped oversaid second named wall to secure the false bottom.

2. A tank having an assembled head comprising a shell, a bottom for theshell having a side wall fitting within the shell and welded thereto,and a false bottom fitting within the shell bottom; the shell bottom andshell being shrunk onto the false bottom to secure the latter.

3. A tank having an assembled head com-L prising a shell, a bottom forthe shell having a side wall fitting within the shell and weldedthereto, and a false bottom on which the shell'' bottom and shellareshrunk. 1,.90

4. A tank having an assembled head com- 3 prising a shell,-a bottomwelded to the shell and positioned within the shell, and a false bottomfitting within the shell bottom and extending beyond the shell; the edgeof the shell and the bottom united thereto being bent over the falsebottom to secure the latter.

5. An assembled end closure for tanks comprising a bottom having a sidewall fitting within a tank shell and weldedthereto, a false bottomfitting within the first named bottom and welded thereto, the end of thetank shell being bent over the false bottom to secure the latter.

6. In a tank having an assembled head, an end construction comprising abottom fitting within and welded to a tubular tank shell, and an endreinforcement comprising a false bottom on which the tank shell andbottom are shrunk, and weld metal connecting the shell to said falsebottom, said false bottom protrudin'g beyond the shell to provide aninwardly inclined surface-on which the tank may be rolled. 1

7. The method of forming tank ends which comprises inserting a bottom ina tubular shell, heating the shell and bottom to unite and expand thesame, then inserting a false W bottom in the first named bottom andcrimp- 120 ing the shell end and bottom thereover and finally permittingthe shell and bottom to cool to shrink onto the false bottom.

8. The method of forming tank ends which comprises inserting a bottom ina tubular tank shell, flame welding said shell and bottom together,inserting a false bottom in the first named bottom immediately after thewelding finall welding the false bottom to the tank shell ottom and tothe tank shell.

v 9. The method of forming tank ends which comprises inserting a bottomin a tubular tank shell, welding the shell and bottom together,inserting a false bottom in the first named bottom immediately after thewelding and while the welded parts are still at a temperature abovenormal, crimping the tank shell over the false bottom prior to coolingof the shell, permitting the shell to shrink onto the false bottom, andfinally welding the false bottom to the tank shell.

10. The method ofsecuring interfitting inner and outer bottom portionsto a container which comprises joining one of the bottom portions to thecontainer by fusion of metal and inserting the other bottom portionbefore the heat produced by the fusion has dissipated whereby thecontraction incident to cooling will shrink the container about the lastin serted bottom portion.

11. Themethod of securing interfitting in ner and outer bottom portionsto a container which comprises joining the innerbottom portion tothecontainer by fusion of metal and inserting the outer bottom portionbefore the heat produced by the fusion has dissipated,

whereby the; contraction incident to cooling will shrink the containerand the inner bottom portion about the outer bottom portion.

In1 witness whereof I have hereunto set my han PF'MERRIAM.

